RIGA, Latvia
Some German political parties who oppose Turkish PM's visit to Germany are turning a blind eye to the contributions made by citizens of Turkish origin to Germany's politics, culture and sports, Turkey's EU minister said Friday.
Prior to Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's highly-anticipated visit to Germany on Saturday, Mevlut Cavusoglu told Anadolu Agency that sensible politicians are well aware of these contributions.
He commended the German government's statements on Erdogan's visit, saying Saturday's visit will not be the first time Turkish PM goes to Germany.
"Mr. Prime Minister addressed 20,000 Turkish cizitens at Cologne Arena eight years ago and he made another speech in Berlin very recently," Cavusoglu said. "Wherever we go, we see that our citizens love their prime minister because they are proud of today's Turkey."
On Wednesday, German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said Germany was unconcerned over the Turkish prime minister’s visit and address to his supporters in Cologne.
The visit sparked debates as thousands of Turkish immigrants are eagerly awaiting Erdogan’s speeches, while several politicians, parties and groups are calling for them to be cancelled, saying that could lead to new divisions and tensions among immigrants in Germany.
Cavusoglu said Germany's center-right political party Christian Social Union expect to garner benefits from unneccesary debates over Erdogan's visit.
On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Erdogan to act with “a sense of responsibility and sensitivity."
www.aa.com.tr/en
